Obituary for Clifford L. Berner, M.D.
Clifford Leland Berner, 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 22nd. He lived a long life of dedication to his family, friends and patients.
Clifford was born July 8th, 1924 in Louisville KY, the son of Laura Bills Berner and Oscar Berner.
He was raised in the family home in Crescent Hill, along with his sister Carolyn (Degener) and many cousins, aunts and uncles.
Clifford graduated from Male High School in 1942 and the University of Louisville Medical School in 1947 in the accelerated wartime program. Following graduation, Dr. Berner practiced medicine in Manchester KY. While in Manchester, he resided in the home of Jude Marcum who welcomed him as a family member. He always remembered his friendships and experiences in Manchester with great affection.
Clifford enlisted as a Captain in the U.S. Army in 1950 and served until 1953. During this time, he served 18 months at a Forward Aid Station on the front line of battle in Korea. He was eventually reassigned to the 141st Army Hospital in Japan where he met his future wife, Evelyn Clarke of Mobile Alabama. Evelyn was a surgical nurse with the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.
Clifford and Evelyn were married in 1953 at Fort McClellan Alabama. They returned to Louisville where Clifford entered a surgical residency at the University of Louisville.
Clifford and Evelyn are survived by two daughters, Martha Lee Berner of Louisville and Lee Ann Berner of Sedona AZ.
Early in his career, Dr. Berner practiced surgery at the University of Louisville Hospital, Methodist and Baptist Hospitals, and Bay Pines Veterans Hospital in St. Petersburg FL. In 1972 he founded a private surgery practice and was based at Suburban and Baptist East Hospitals.
Clifford enjoyed large family gatherings and shared many stories of growing up in Crescent Hill in the 1930’s. After retirement, he spent happy days with friends in the Crescent Hill Garden Club and enthusiastically tended his home garden. He will always be remembered as a caring father, gifted surgeon and gardener, and as the beloved family patriarch of the Berner-Bills family.
A visitation and funeral service will be held at St. John United Church of Christ, 637 E. Market St. on Friday, December 28. Visitation will begin at 10:30 am. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am with burial following at Cave Hill Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the many outstanding staff members at the Sam Swope Care Center, Masonic Communities of KY who cared for Clifford in his final years. In addition, we extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Home Instead and to Clifford’s dedicated caregivers especially, Cindy Diebold and Tim Hawkins who made his final years truly joyful.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John United Church of Christ or the Crescent Hill Garden Club.
Clifford was born July 8th, 1924 in Louisville KY, the son of Laura Bills Berner and Oscar Berner.
He was raised in the family home in Crescent Hill, along with his sister Carolyn (Degener) and many cousins, aunts and uncles.
Clifford graduated from Male High School in 1942 and the University of Louisville Medical School in 1947 in the accelerated wartime program. Following graduation, Dr. Berner practiced medicine in Manchester KY. While in Manchester, he resided in the home of Jude Marcum who welcomed him as a family member. He always remembered his friendships and experiences in Manchester with great affection.
Clifford enlisted as a Captain in the U.S. Army in 1950 and served until 1953. During this time, he served 18 months at a Forward Aid Station on the front line of battle in Korea. He was eventually reassigned to the 141st Army Hospital in Japan where he met his future wife, Evelyn Clarke of Mobile Alabama. Evelyn was a surgical nurse with the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.
Clifford and Evelyn were married in 1953 at Fort McClellan Alabama. They returned to Louisville where Clifford entered a surgical residency at the University of Louisville.
Clifford and Evelyn are survived by two daughters, Martha Lee Berner of Louisville and Lee Ann Berner of Sedona AZ.
Early in his career, Dr. Berner practiced surgery at the University of Louisville Hospital, Methodist and Baptist Hospitals, and Bay Pines Veterans Hospital in St. Petersburg FL. In 1972 he founded a private surgery practice and was based at Suburban and Baptist East Hospitals.
Clifford enjoyed large family gatherings and shared many stories of growing up in Crescent Hill in the 1930’s. After retirement, he spent happy days with friends in the Crescent Hill Garden Club and enthusiastically tended his home garden. He will always be remembered as a caring father, gifted surgeon and gardener, and as the beloved family patriarch of the Berner-Bills family.
A visitation and funeral service will be held at St. John United Church of Christ, 637 E. Market St. on Friday, December 28. Visitation will begin at 10:30 am. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am with burial following at Cave Hill Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the many outstanding staff members at the Sam Swope Care Center, Masonic Communities of KY who cared for Clifford in his final years. In addition, we extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Home Instead and to Clifford’s dedicated caregivers especially, Cindy Diebold and Tim Hawkins who made his final years truly joyful.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John United Church of Christ or the Crescent Hill Garden Club.